The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-03-08
THEGREArMAN MERE BREATH.
ING MACHINE.
The Members Of His Family at His
Bedside-Visits b. Distin-
guished Men.
HIS BROTHER EN- ROUTE TO NEW
YORK FROM ELAIRA.
Prayers Offered by Some EVangeli
calls While Others Refuse 10
Say q Word.

by one they would silently move in
and out OF the death chamber, tax Ing
their turns at the dreary vigil. DIR.
Searle was at the post OF duty without
intermission until nearly 6 O'Clock,
when he retired to bis home to snatch
few hours rest Mrs. Bee cher had
kept watch over the sick man most OF
the night, fearing he might pass away
In her absence. She did, however,
take a few hours rest on her couch in
the room adj lining that where the
sufferer lay, but she left word to be
called the instant the slightest
change in her husbands cou.
dition was noted. Col. Beecher, " ho
lives in the house with his family,
was also ready at a moments notice to
go to his fathers bedside thould the
request come, but the dread summons
did not reach him. He remained be-
side the bed for few hours while his
mother took little repoee, but the
brave wife did not remain long away
from her husbands side. Sne bore
her tfn ctions heroically, and as the
day broke she was again in the
tick chamber. The other mem
bers of the family in the
house were w. O. Beecher and wife,
Mr.. and Mrs. Scoville and two sons,
and Miss Daisy Beecher. Msj. Pond,
Mr.. Brecher's leCturing tour manager,
who lives close by, was ready to come
across to the house at moments
notice. He is one Of the few not of
the eminent divine's immediate rela-
tves who WIS adm tied into the
house. The Major has Travelled many
hmm 1reds of thousands OF miles with
Mr.. Beecher, and for many years has
been one of the sufferers most inti-
mate friends.
Many kilograms were received dur
ing the day, but none of them have
been opened. The following was is.
su d by DR.. Searle, at the time indi-
Gated:
8P.M-This day, in the history Of
Mr.. Beecher's sickness, has been
msrked by ir quent fluctuations with
in narrow limits. The rate of neither
pu'se, temperature, nor respiration,
has long been constant. The pulse
has, on the whole, increased in rapid.
iiy, rising to ia, and now marking
ITO. The rate OF respiration is now
40. The temperature has varied be-
tween l0l and it's present point
--99t. In general, it may be
said that bis condition is worse
than at any previous time. The
character OF the pulse has changed it
is now dicro'ic-tumultuous, indicating
failure OF heart power. The respira-
tions have increased in frequency and
are more inpeded by ereater accumu.
lations OF mucus trechea than yester-
day, though not to 80 great a deg, ee
as on Saturday forenoon. The tenn.
perature taken every two hours has
not been the same on any two success
sive occasions. 1t is impossible to con-
clude with any approach at certainty
whether death will come by asphyxia
from failure of the respiratory centers
or from paral sis Of the heart, or
both; or, as before stated, from recur-
reace OF hemorrhsge. IL is therefore
obviously impossible TO indicate the
probable line of termination of the
disfa:e. Itis, however, the opinion
of the physician that the limit will
not be reached tonight. It'is unnec-
essary to add that Mr.. Bsecher il en-.
terely UNCONSCIOUS and suffers no pain.
Doubtless his condition Is that OF one
In troubled dresm.
W. s. SEARLES,. MD.
At 10 o'clock the following was is-
sued:
Mr.. Beecher is slowly failing, but
we do not think he viii die tonight.
W. 8. SEARLE, NJ. D.
At 1880 the house was closed for
the night.
A meeting OF the parishioners of |
Plymouth Church was held in the |
lecture room, commencing at 8 pm.
The room was crowded with male and |
female members OF the congregation |
and not q few friends from other |
churches, and there was scarcely q
dry eye to be seen from beginning to
end Of the proceedings. Mr.. Tilney
presided. The Rev. DR.. Halliday
opened the meeting with moving
prayer, in which he desired that their
beloved pastor might not even be
allowed to seem to suffer, but that
he might speedily attain unto the rest
prepsred for him. After the singing
Of q hymn Mr.. jacobson offered prayer,
and the chairman then read the por-
ton OF scripture commencing: "Fi-
nally, beloved, be strong In the ord
and in the power Of His might, which
is able to keep you from falling" etc.
1t seemed almost as IL these words
were q message to him who was leav-
ing them, because it seemed as though
they were for a born warrior. In all
the past years he had had to fight and
to struggle; there had always been
for him to battle with.
And he had fought the good fight;
there had never been any 6inching,
never any turning back. He had
been equipped OF God to do real
and noble work, and now the time had
come when he had to lay down the
shield, and the helmet, and the sword,
and there was to be no more battle.
He was just floating on the tide that
would bear him to his home. They
had none OF them any doubt as TO
where he wss being borne. 1t was
said that all men were equal before
God, but he thought that for such a
royal heart there would surely be a
royal welcome. 1t was ell well with
him, they would not call him back,
for be wss on his journey home.
Other heartfelt remarks were made
and the following letter from Mira.
Bescher was read:
To the beloved members Of Plymouth
Chureh:s
cannot speak my thanks to each
one OF you for the sympathy and the
love and the devotion manifested in
these last dark ga days for your pas
tor. He can no longer speak to YOU
for himself. Then permit me 10 do Il
for him, for myself, for my family.
Each work of love from the people 30
dear to your pastors heart has been A
comfort and RAIN to q heart Wrung
almost to bursting. How he loved tis
church you will only learn in its full
ness when you sand with him in
.,...--.snrnauIIlNurIfE |